Loughs Agency area

DCAL Lakes within the Foyle catchment are now closed for this season with exception of Binevenagh Lake; it will remain open unto the 31st December.

Cashel Trout Fishery

With outstanding weather this weekend anglers were in their element catching loads of trout with their favourite flies.

Maghera’s Daniel Reilly bagged two nearing the 4lb mark which took wee bloodworms. Alan Temple (Derry) bagged two weighing 3lb 2ozs and continued to release five other which fell to assorted lures and bloodworms. Billy Hazlett also from Derry bagged two and released one which fell to orange blobs. Billy’s two for home weighed 4lb 2ozs. Paul Ford (Derry) released four which averaged 2.5lb. They fell to small suspender buzzers. Pearse Doherty (Maghera) had a brilliant day using orange blobs releasing ten great trout. Dungiven anglers also had a great time. John Hasson released eight which took a black damsel. Martin Bradley released six which took orange blobs, buzzers and mini cat whiskers. Barry Hasson (Feeny) released four lovely trout falling to a GH damsel. Friends Brian and Peter Mc Nicholl (Dungiven) had an enjoyable day releasing three trout which took a wee black nymph.

Coarse Angling Update

Eastern Region

Coarse fishing patchy in cold, wind and rain

Coarse angling has been described as patchy in recent weeks. A number of local and visiting anglers are fishing the north east lakes with the most popular venues being Lough Muckno, the Gas Lake, Mentrim Lake, Capragh lake and Whitewood lake. Most coarse anglers fishing for bream, carp and tench, with numbers for these latter three relatively evenly distributed. Numbers of carp anglers have been fishing regularly in the Carrickmacross area.

Northern Ireland

[18/11/10]

MATCH TWO ERNE ANGLERS FLOAT ONLY LEAGUE

A record 35 anglers turned out for the Erne Anglers Winter League Float Only match on Roslea Lakes at the weekend.Anglers were spread over 5 different Lakes in the area and fished in fine float fishing conditions.

Individual winner was David Burleigh (Kinawley) who caught 7.560Kgs of Roach on the pole at Inver High peg 15,

Jack Tisdall (Ballinamallard) was runner up with 80 Roach at 9m, for 5.860Kgs on Lyons peg 6, while Nicky Harrison (Arva) was third with 5.260Kgs on Quigley’s Lake.

At the moment the top 18 in the league will qualify for the estimated £2,000 final at the end of March. The next match will take place on Sunday 21 Nov at either the Lakes or Ballyconnell Canal. Book in as normal if you intend to fish. Jack Tisdale

Pike Angling Update

Eastern Region

Pike fishing continues to improve in North East

Pike angling has been improving as the month progresses. Unconfirmed reports have been received of a very large pike (35-40lbs) being caught and returned on Gas Lake in Castleblaney. If anyone has any information or photos of this fish we would appreciate if you could contact us. Small pike to 3kgs being caught on Lough Bracken in Drumconrath. Good numbers of pike have been reported caught on Lough Muckno in Castleblaney and pike to 5kgs are being regularly caught on Gas Lake. Good pike angling has also been reported on Whitewood Lake with fish averaging 3 to 4 kgs. Pike over 6kgs have also been taken on Laragh Lake.

Its been a while since we have had a report from angling guide Marc O'Regan but he hasn't lost his touch. Marc caught and released a number of pike recently at a Westmeath venue. The total weight of fish for the outing was 58lbs. The best fish was a well conditioned pike which weighed 27lbs 2ozs.

Photo: Marc O'Regan with a very well conditioned Westmeath pike

If you fancy a days guided pike fishing with Marc O'Regan he can be contacted at 046 9431635 or by email at cranmor@eircom.net

Shannon Region

King of Lakes - Round 1 Keeldra

Photo: The lads were certainly dressed for the weather

Last Sunday the 14th November our neighboring pike anglers, North Longford pike anglers hosted their first qualifier of the annual King of the Lakes competition. This event will run till April 10th 2011 and will be fished over six competitions. I have all the dates and will keep you posted in the coming weeks. On Sunday I teamed up with Marty Smith who dropped over for the weekend from Macklesfield. We found it hard going on Keeldra, but still enjoyed the day out, and really that’s what fishing is all about. We left Mullingar around 9am in cold foggy conditions and made Keeldra in an hour pulling the boat. It was almost impossible to see the Lake with the fog, but it did lift a little as the day progressed. As it turned out some nice pike were caught with Joe McDermott taking the honours on the day with 4 pike for 39lbs 2oz. The best fish weighed 14lbs 8oz, which is a good pike for Keeldra as it is a very small lake. I am sure there are bigger pike in the lake and some day I will give it another lash.

While having lunch at the 1-30 weigh-in I met Mick Dalton of Ballymore and his angling pal Sam Champ of Longford. The lads were certainly dressed for the weather, and had a few small pike.bs 12oz. This Monster took a popped up dead Rudd, and was in mint condition.Mick Flanagan
Angling correspondent and photographer.
Mobile: 087-2797270.
Web: www.midlandangling.com

Specimen pike from River Shannon, Jamestown

Photo: Derek Greene is no stranger to specimen pike, this one came in at 23lb 1oz.

Derek Greene has had some good fortune recently while fishing a favourite spot near Jamestown on the River Shannon. Over the last 4 weeks he has had 3 specimen pike from the area. On the Friday of the October bank holiday he caught one of 20lbs 8 oz and on the bank holiday Monday another of 22lbs 10oz.

Derek returned his spot last Sunday 14 November with some friends and between them they got 8 pike. Derek only accounted for one, but it was the best - a fine pike of 23lb 1oz. Derek is no stranger to specimen pike and has featured in both the Catch of the Week and ISFC reports in the past.

Lough Ree International Pike Angling Festival 2011

Following on from the success of the first Lough Ree International Pike Angling Festival the 2011 tournament will take place Wednesday to Friday, April 13-14-15.

Anglers will get three days of exciting pike boat angling on the massive waters of Lough Ree, near Athlone, and a chance to share in a staggering cash prize fund that includes a guaranteed €3,000 first prize for the largest fish. The festival is supported by Lakelands & Inland Waterways Ireland.

Ireland’s newest angling event was a resounding success last spring and to win any of the six prizes each day it was necessary to catch a pike of 18lb or more – in fact the winning fish was estimated to be 23lb! The events “catch and release” format involved anglers measuring their own fish on board the boat, photographing the catch alongside the board and then releasing it within a few minutes, totally unharmed.

Special festival inclusive package breaks – including ferry and accommodation – are available and early booking is recommended.
Entry forms and more detailed information is available by using the website www.pikefishinginireland.com or telephone 0151 324 4744

Sea Angling Update

Eastern Region

Specimen Flounder from the South East

Photo: A 2lb 9ozs of specimen flounder for Mick Doyle of the Greystones Ridge Sea Angling Club

A planned weekend session after the lunker flatties came right for Gerry Mitchell and Mick Doyle with a haul of five good flounder. Peeler and lugworm were the key baits and a definite pattern is forming regarding the stage of tide when these monster flatfish start to feed.

It was a perfect day for flounder fishing, frosty with only a light breeze. The cold slows down the activity of crab making hook baits last that bit longer so giving the flounder an opportunity to home in. Utilising flowing beaded traces which appeal to the inquisitive nature of flounder, it was not until late afternoon that the flounder started to bite.

In a flurry of activity the flounder came on with Mick landing the biggie to no surprise. Some people have a fish magnet built in and Mick Doyle has the gift, if there was anyone going to catch a specimen yesterday it was he. That is two specimens in one week from a cracking venue, they will not be the last. Practice catch and release.Ashley HaydenWeb:www.anirishanglersworld.com

South Western Region

Stradbally Beach Competition results

Stradbally Beach was the venue on Sunday 14th from 2-6pm for Tralee Bay Sea Angling Club's November shore angling competition. The weather was almost perfect - apart from the cold snap. It became even colder as the sun went down reminding us that December is only just around the corner.

As competitors arrived at the venue sizeable rollers in the simply screamed Bass. There was also much talk at the check of good quality fish been caught the previous day. With hightened anticipation for a good days fishing angers stuffed additional warm clothing into their tackle boxes before heading off along the beach.

There was very few fish showing in the first hour or so with only the odd flounder showing up in patches along the beach. Anglers spirits rose as the word went out of a quality bass and a specimen flounder being expertly hooked down the beach. But as darkness fell and baits were regulary being retrieved untouched optimism once again flagged.

The presentation of prizes took place in Dowdies Bar. Everyone enjoyed his hospitality with some fine hot stew to warm the blood. The roaring open fire was also extremely welcome as many competitors had a few fingers and toes in need of thawing out. When the bodies recovered and the points were tallied up by Colm the prizes were as follows,

Junior Results

Luke O Sullivan 35pts

James Lyne 5pts

Gavin Corbett (Drawn)

Senior Results

John Tobin 219pts

Pat Egan 161pts

Aidan O Sullivan (The Spa)

The flat fish award went to Josh Corbet with a superb 44cm Flounder while the biggest round fish went to John Tobin with a fine Bass of 54cm. A total of 44 fish were recorded and released on the day. Well done to all who took part.John TobinTralee Bay Sea Angling ClubWeb:www.traleebaysac.org

Northern Ireland

[18/11/10]

Deep sea anglers finally get offshore

Photo: 23lb skate, the smallest ever caught onboard Predator.

The recent high pressure gave good conditions for working offshore. a large gully 17km north of Rathlin Island was the venue. Anglers onboard Predator targetted congers, skate, blackmouth dogfish, spurdog and ling. Everyone had good fishing and 5 skate, 16 congers, 29 spurdogs, 5 blackmouth dogfish and a couple of ling were landed. Coalfish and pollack were the killing baits. One angler caught the smallest skate ever recorded on any of my boats weighing in at a mere 23lbs. One of the congers was quite a handful and wins Catch of the Week.Hamish CurriePredator
II
Red Bay Stormforce 9.1 Rib Web: www.predatorireland.comEmail: info@predatorireland.comTelephone: 028 2177 1828 Boat: 07720440117